Underwood is a surname of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

topographic origin.

History

Deriving from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

"under" a preposition meaning "under" or "below", plus "wuda", a wood. The name was originally given to one dwelling at the foot of a wood or literally "below the trees of a forest". The name may also be locational from three places named with these elements i.e.,

Underwood Underwood may refer to: People *Underwood (surname), people with the surname Places United States * Underwood, Shelby County, Alabama * Underwood, Indiana * Underwood, Iowa * Underwood, Minnesota * Underwood, New York * Underwood, North Dakota * ...

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Underwood, Nottinghamshire Underwood is a hilltop village within the civil parish of Selston in the English ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire. The village is a ward of Ashfield with a population of 2,953 taken at the 2011 Census. It stands in a former coal mining are ...

, England. The surname is first recorded in the latter half of the 12th Century (see below). One William Underwude appears in the 1219 Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire, and a William under the Wode in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire. From the beginning of the surviving parish registers in 1559 there were Underwoods recorded in Pickering parish,

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

, England. On 2 January 1634, one Joseph Underwood, aged 23 yrs., embarked from London on the ship "Bonaventure" bound for Virginia. He was one of the earliest recorded name bearers to enter America. No less than seven Coats of Arms were granted to families of this name; a particular namebearer mentioned in the Dictionary of National Biography was one

Michael Underwood Michael Paul Underwood (born 26 October 1975) is an English television presenter, best known as a children's TV presenter on CBBC and CITV. He can be seen as a fifteen-year-old in an episode of ''The Crystal Maze'', then presented by Richar ...

(1737–1820), who practised in London as a surgeon and as a "male-midwife". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Underwode which was dated 1188, in the "Records of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk", during the reign of King Henry II, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 – 1189.

People

Surname

General

* Adin Ballou Underwood (1828–1888), American general *

Antony Underwood Antony J. Underwood is the founder and a former director of the '' ARC Special Research Centre on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities'' at the University of Sydney. Tony has written extensively about the processes that cause patterns of distribu ...

, Australian scientist *

April Underwood April Underwood was the chief product officer at Slack. Before joining Slack, she held positions at Twitter, Google, and WeatherBill. She is a co-founder of #Angels, an investment group for early-stage start-ups. Education Underwood graduated f ...

, tech investor *

Barbara Underwood Barbara Dale Underwood (born August 16, 1944) is an American lawyer currently serving as the Solicitor General of New York. She was first appointed to the position in January 2007 by Andrew Cuomo, who was then serving as the state's Attorney Gen ...

(born 1944), American lawyer * Cecil F. Underwood (1867–1943), British scientific collector * Cecilia Underwood, 1st Duchess of Inverness (c. 1785 – 1873), British peer *

Edmund Underwood Edmund Underwood (1826–1863) was a native of Pennsylvania that served in the Mexican American War and then as an officer in the U. S. Army. Biography He was an officer in the 4th Infantry Regiment various posts in California and Oregon Territor ...

(182?–1863), U.S. Army officer 1848–1863 * Edmund Beardsley Underwood (1853–1928), American naval officer, son of Edmund Underwood * Elizabeth Underwood (c. 1794 – 1858), Australian land owner *

Eric Underwood Eric John Underwood AO, CBE (7 September 1905 – 19 August 1980) was an Australian scientist who pioneered research into sheep nutrition and wool production. Personal life Underwood was born in Harlington, Middlesex, England on 7 September 1 ...

(1905–1980), Australian scientist *

Francis Henry Underwood Francis Henry Underwood (January 12, 1825 – August 7, 1894) was an American editor and writer. He was the founder and first associate editor of ''The Atlantic Monthly'' in 1857 while still working as a publisher's assistant. Biography Underwood ...

(1825–1894), American biographer and diplomat * George V. Underwood Jr. (1913–1984), American army general * Gordon Waite Underwood (1932–1978), American naval officer *

Grant Underwood Grant Revon Underwood is a historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a professor at Brigham Young University (BYU). He is also the author of ''The Millennial World of Early Mormonism'' and the editor of ''Voy ...

(born 1954), American Mormon historian *

Horace Grant Underwood Horace Grant Underwood (19 July 1859 – 12 October 1916) was a Presbyterian missionary, educator, and translator who dedicated his life to developing Christianity in Korea. Early life Underwood was born in London and immigrated to the United ...

(1859–1916), American missionary and founder of Yonsei University in Korea * James Underwood (1771–1844) Australian merchant * James Underwood (born 1942), British pathologist * Jim Underwood, American management professor * John Underwood (PR adviser), British public relation adviser * John Thomas Underwood (1857–1937), founder of the Underwood Typewriter Company * Joseph Edwin Underwood (1882–1960), Canadian engineer * Julie K. Underwood, American academic * Kevin Ray Underwood (born 1979), American convicted murderer *

Lucien Marcus Underwood Lucien Marcus Underwood (October 26, 1853 – November 16, 1907) was an American botanist and mycologist of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Early life and career He was born in New Woodstock, New York. He enrolled at Syracuse University in 1 ...

(1853–1907), American botanist and mycologist * Naomi Tacuyen Underwood, Filipina-American journalist and AAPI activist *

Peter Underwood Peter George Underwood, (10 October 1937 – 7 July 2014) was an Australian jurist and the Governor of Tasmania from 2008 until his death in 2014. He was the Chief Justice of Tasmania from 2004 to 2008, having been a judge of the Supreme Cou ...

(1937–2014), Australian judge and government official *

Peter Underwood (parapsychologist) Peter Underwood, (16 May 1923 – 26 November 2014) was an English author, broadcaster and parapsychologist. Underwood was born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Described as "an indefatigable ghost hunter", he wrote many books which surveyed ...

(1923–2014), English author, broadcaster and paranormalist *

Robert C. Underwood Robert C. Underwood (October 27, 1915 – March 30, 1988) was an American jurist. Born in Gardner, Illinois, Underwood received his bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1937 and his bachelor's degree from University of Illino ...

(1915–1988), American jurist from Illinois *

Rory Underwood Rory Underwood, (born 19 June 1963) is an English former rugby union player, he is 's record international try scorer with 49 tries in 85 internationals between 1984 and 1996. Underwood's principal position was wing and he played 236 games for ...

(born 1992), Company Director of Rormat ltd *

William D. Underwood William D. Underwood has been the eighteenth President of Mercer University since 2006. He was the interim President of Baylor University from 2005 to 2006. Biography Underwood graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and received a J.D. from ...

, American university president

Arts

Blair Underwood Blair Erwin Underwood (born August 25, 1964) is an American actor. He made his debut in the 1985 musical film ''Krush Groove'' and from 1987 to 1994 starred as attorney Jonathan Rollins in the NBC legal drama series ''L.A. Law''. Underwood has a ...

(born 1964), American actor * Brittany Underwood (born 1988), American actress *

Carrie Underwood Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of ''American Idol'' in 2005. Her single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the only country artist to debut atop the ''Bill ...

(born 1983), American singer and winner of the ''American Idol'' TV series in 2005 * Charles Underwood (1791–1883), English architect * Edna W. Underwood (1873–1961), American author, poet, and translator *

Frank Underwood (English musician) Frank Underwood is an English folk and blues musician who is also known for his work in the early music field. He lives and works in Oxfordshire, England. Biography Musical activities Frank Underwood learned classical piano as a boy and classic ...

Franklin Underwood Franklin Underwood, also known as Frank Underwood during the 1960s, is an American songwriter and jazz pianist. Underwood lives in Manhattan. His show '' Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen'', a musical based on '' The Teahouse of the August Moon'' wit ...

, American musical theatre composer *

George Allen Underwood George Allen Underwood (1793 – 1 November 1829, Bath) was an architect in Cheltenham. He was a pupil of Sir John Soane from 1807 to 1815 and then started his own practice in Cheltenham. He was Surveyor for Somerset, Dorset and the Dean an ...

(1793–1829), English architect *

Gilbert Stanley Underwood Gilbert Stanley Underwood (1890–1960) was an American architect best known for his National Park lodges. Born in 1890, Underwood received his B.A. from Yale in 1920 and a M.A. from Harvard in 1923. After opening an office in Los Angeles that ...

(1890–1960), American architect *

Henry Underwood (architect) Henry Underwood (1787 – 8 March 1868) was an architect, initially working in Cheltenham, who later moved to Bath. His most important building in Bath was the The New Church, Swedenborgian New Jerusalem Church in the Greek revival architecture, ...

(1787–1868), English architect *

Henry Jones Underwood Henry Jones Underwood (1804–1852) was an English architect who spent most of his career in Oxford. He was the brother of the architects Charles Underwood (''circa'' 1791–1883) and George Allen Underwood (dates unknown). Underwood t ...

(1804–1852), English architect *

Ian Underwood Ian Robertson Underwood (born May 22, 1939) is a woodwind and keyboards player, known for his work with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Biography Underwood graduated from The Choate School in 1957 and Yale University with a bachelor' ...

(born 1939), musician *

Jay Underwood Jay Underwood (born October 1, 1968) is an American actor and pastor. Beginning a prolific career as a teen actor in the mid-1980s, he is perhaps best known for his starring feature film roles; portraying Eric Gibb in ''The Boy Who Could Fly'', ...

(born 1968), American actor *

Katie Underwood Katie Underwood (born 23 December 1975) is an Australian singer-songwriter and meditation teacher. She is best known for being a member of Bardot, winners of the first Australian series of ''Popstars'' in 2000. Since departing the group in ...

(born 1975), Australian singer-songwriter * Larry Underwood (born 1966), American actor * Lee Underwood (born 1938), American musician *

Leon Underwood George Claude Leon Underwood (25 December 1890 – 9 October 1975) was a British artist, although primarily known as a sculptor, printmaker and painter, he was also an influential teacher and promotor of African art. His travels in Mexico a ...

(1890–1975), British artist *

Loyal Underwood Loyal Underwood (August 6, 1893 - September 30, 1966) was an American stock actor for Charlie Chaplin's film studio. Biography Born in 1893 in Rockford, Illinois, Underwood's movie debut was in '' The Count'', a 1916 Chaplin short film created ...

(1893–1966), American actor *

Matt Underwood Matt Underwood is an American sportscaster currently serving as the television play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). Broadcasting career Prior to joining the Guardians broadcast team on a full-time ...

(born 1968), American sports announcer *

(born 1975), British television presenter *

Mick Underwood Michael John Underwood (born 5 September 1945) is an English drummer. He first played drums at the age of 14 and was a professional musician by the time he left school. Underwood has collaborated with a number of notable musicians and groups, ...

(born 1975), British drummer *

Ron Underwood Ronald Brian Underwood (born November 6, 1953) is an American film and television director, known for directing such films as ''Tremors (1990 film), Tremors'' (1990), ''City Slickers'' (1991), ''Heart and Souls'' (1993),'' and Mighty Joe Young ...

(born 1953), American film director * Ron Underwood (musician) *

Ruth Underwood Ruth Underwood (born Ruth Komanoff; May 23, 1946) is an American musician best known for playing xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and other percussion instruments in Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. She collaborated with the Mothers of In ...

(born 1946), American musician *

Sam Underwood Sam Lewis Underwood (born 4 August 1987) is an English actor who portrayed the twins Luke and Mark Gray in the Fox thriller drama ''The Following'', Jake Otto in the AMC series '' Fear the Walking Dead'' (2017), and Adam Carrington in The CW serie ...

(born 1987), American actor *

(born 1990), British writer, director and actor *

Sara Jean Underwood Sara Jean Underwood (born March 26, 1984) is an American model, television host, and actress who was chosen as the Playmate of the Month for the July 2006 issue of ''Playboy'' magazine. and later became Playmate of the Year in 2007. She is a f ...

(born 1984), American model, actress, and Playboy Playmate *

Sheryl Underwood Sheryl Patrice Underwood (born October 28, 1963) is an American comedian, actress and television host. She first rose to prominence in the comedy world as the first female finalist in 1989's Miller Lite Comedy Search. Currently, Underwood is one ...

(born 1963), American comedian * Wilbur Underwood (1874–1935), American poet *

William Lyman Underwood William Lyman Underwood (1864 – January 24, 1929) was an American photographer who was also involved in the research of time-temperature canning research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1895 to 1896. Biography A na ...

(1864–1929), American photographer

Politicians

Cecil H. Underwood Cecil Harland Underwood (November 5, 1922 – November 24, 2008) was an American Republican Party politician from West Virginia, known for the length of his career. He was the 25th and 32nd Governor of West Virginia from 1957 to 1961, and fro ...

(1922–2008), American politician *

Henry Underwood Rufus Henry Underwood (31 December 1863 – 8 October 1945) was an Australian politician who represented the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Pilbara from 1906 until 1924. Initially active in the Labor Party and a ministe ...

(1863–1945), Australian politician * Jim Underwood (politician), American politician * John C. Underwood (1840–1913), American politician and judge *

John Curtiss Underwood John Curtiss Underwood (March 14, 1809 – December 7, 1873) was an Attorneys in the United States, attorney, abolitionist politician and a United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Dis ...

(1809–1873), American abolitionist, politician and judge * John W. H. Underwood (1816–1888), American politician *

Joseph R. Underwood Joseph Rogers Underwood (October 24, 1791 – August 23, 1876) was a lawyer, judge, United States Representative and Senator from Kentucky. Early and family life Joseph Underwood was born in Goochland County, Virginia to John Underwood, ...

(1791–1876), American politician *

Lauren Underwood Lauren Ashley Underwood (born October 4, 1986) is an American politician and registered nurse who is a U.S. representative from Illinois's 14th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. Her district, once represented by former ...

(born 1986), American politician * Mell G. Underwood (1892–1972), American politician *

Nerissa Bretania Underwood Nerissa Bretania Underwood (born 1955) is a Guamanian politician who served as the senator in Legislature of Guam, Guam Legislature, also former vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Guam, a former superintendent of the Guam Department of Edu ...

, Guamanian politician *

Oscar Underwood Oscar Wilder Underwood (May 6, 1862 – January 25, 1929) was an American lawyer and politician from Alabama, and also a candidate for President of the United States in 1912 and 1924. He was the first formally designated floor leader in the Unite ...

(1862–1929), American politician *

Robert A. Underwood Robert Anacletus Underwood (born July 13, 1948) is an American politician and educator who served as the delegate from Guam to the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003 as a member of the Democratic Party. He subsequently serv ...

(born 1948), American politician from Guam *

Thomas Underwood Thomas Underwood (May 6, 1863 – May 10, 1948) was a building developer and the 13th mayor of Calgary, Alberta. Born in Asfordby, Leicestershire, England in 1863, Underwood emigrated to Canada when he was 20. A carpenter by trade, he arri ...

(1863–1948), Canadian politician *

Thomas R. Underwood Thomas Rust Underwood (March 3, 1898June 29, 1956) was an American politician who served Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives and in the United States Senate. Early life Thomas Rust Underwood was born in Hopkinsville, Kentu ...

(1898–1956), American politician *

Warner Underwood Warner Lewis Underwood (August 7, 1808 – March 12, 1872) was an attorney, state legislator and United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Kentucky. Like his brother Joseph Rogers Underwood (who had represented the same Ken ...

(1808–1872), American politician

Sports

Brad Underwood Bradley Cole Underwood (born December 14, 1963) is the current head coach for the Illinois men's basketball team. Previously, he served as head coach at Oklahoma State, Stephen F. Austin, Dodge City Community College, and Daytona Beach Community ...

Basketball coach at the

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Universit ...

Derek Underwood Derek Leslie Underwood (born 8 June 1945) is an English former international cricketer, and a former President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Through much of his career, Underwood was regarded as one of the best bowlers in Test cricket ...

(born 1945), English cricketer *

Dimitrius Underwood Dimitrius Paul Underwood (born March 29, 1977) is a former professional American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Michigan State University. Ea ...

(born 1977), American football defensive end *

Duane Underwood Jr. Duane Lee Underwood Jr. (born July 20, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs. Career Amateur career Underwood attended A ...

(born 1994), American baseball player * E. J. Underwood (born 1983), American football cornerback * Fred Underwood (1868–1906), American baseball pitcher *

George Underwood (athlete) George Bowker Underwood (November 4, 1884 – August 28, 1943) was an American athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics. He competed for the United States in the 1904 Summer Olympics held in St Louis, United States in the 4 mile tea ...

(1884–1943), American track and field athlete *

Lake Underwood Lake Underwood (July 4, 1926 – September 12, 2008) was an American entrepreneur who competed as a champion in the racing of prototype automobiles and motorcycles. He was a master mechanic who, although high performance fuel delivery and carburet ...

(born 1926), American race car driver * Marviel Underwood (born 1982), American football safety * Olen Underwood (born 1942), American football player and judge *

Paul Underwood Paul Underwood (born 16 August 1973) is a former professional association football, footballer. He previously played for Football League Two club Luton Town F.C., Luton Town. Underwood began his career with Carshalton Athletic, and after spells ...

(born 1973), English footballer *

(born 1963), English rugby union player *

Tiquan Underwood Tiquan Underwood (born February 17, 1987) is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He played college football at Rutgers and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in ...

(born 1987), American football wide receiver *

Tom Underwood Thomas Gerald Underwood (December 22, 1953 – November 22, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. His younger brother, Pat was also a pitcher, and made his major league debut against Tom. It was the first time in major league histo ...

(born 1953), American baseball pitcher *

Tony Underwood Tony Underwood (born 17 February 1969 in Ipoh, Malaysia) is a former English rugby union footballer who played as a wing three-quarter back. He is of Malaysian-English parentage. Rugby career His rugby talent was first nurtured at Barnard Castl ...

(born 1969), English rugby union player * Wayne Underwood (1913–1967), American football player

Fictional characters

* Frank Underwood (''House of Cards''), fictional American politician *

Grover Underwood A description of most characters featured in various mythology series by Rick Riordan. Overview List indicator(s) * A dark grey cell indicates that the character was not in the property or that the character's presence in the property has yet to ...

, a fictional satyr *

Weevil Underwood The ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' series features an extensive cast of characters created by Kazuki Takahashi. The series takes place in a fictional city in Japan called Domino City, in which most of the characters that appear in the series originate. Many plot ...

, a ''

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' magazine between September 1996 and March 2004. The plot follows the story of a boy named Yugi Mutou, w ...

'' character * Braxton Bragg Underwood, the Maycomb newspaper editor in the novel ''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and was instantly successful. In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' has become ...

'' by

Harper Lee Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926February 19, 2016) was an American novelist best known for her 1960 novel ''To Kill a Mockingbird''. It won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. Lee has received numero ...

* Jean Underwood, a teacher in the novel '' Rage'' by

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

* Mr. Underwood, a side-character in ''

TimeSplitters 2 ''TimeSplitters 2'' is a first-person shooter video game developed by Free Radical Design and published by Eidos Interactive for PlayStation 2, Xbox (console), Xbox and GameCube game consoles. It is the second game in the ''TimeSplitters'' series, ...

'' and '' TimeSplitters: Future Perfect''